NIGHT CITY — In a move that mirrors the aggressive expansionism of its fictional megacorporations, the Cyberpunkfranchise is officially colonizing the tabletop. After years of aborted attempts and quiet development, CD Projekt Red (CDPR) has confirmed the existence of the Cyberpunk Trading Card Game, a physical-only endeavor designed to bridge the gap between the 2077 digital landscape and the tactical intimacy of hobby store skirmishes.
The project is not an internal CDPR production but rather a strategic partnership with WeirdCo, an independent card-game studio that has secured the high-profile license to translate the neon-drenched dystopia into a collectible format.
The Architect in the Machine
At the center of the development is Louhan Wei, the CEO of WeirdCo, who has spent the last month attempting to temper the high-frequency hype of the Cyberpunk faithful. While mechanical details remain largely proprietary, Wei’s public statements suggest a design philosophy rooted in the source material’s preoccupation with risk and systemic decay.
“We are looking for players to see how we’ve adapted the themes of Cyberpunk,” Wei noted during a brief press window following the December reveal. Industry insiders suggest this adaptation includes a “Heat” mechanic, where excessive aggression draws the attention of corporate enforcers or NCPD units—a direct mechanical translation of the video game’s wanted system.
A Timeline of Tactical Delays
The history of Cyberpunk on paper is one of false starts. In 2019, the industry buzzed over Afterlife: The Card Game, a standalone drafting project by Eric Lang and CMON that ultimately vanished into the digital ether. This new TCG, however, appears to have the full weight of CDPR’s fifth-anniversary marketing push behind it.
The rollout strategy is deliberate:
-
The Lead-In: Early sign-ups are currently being incentivized with “Nova Rare” cards, including a holographic variant of the Edgerunners protagonist, Lucy.
-
The Funding: A Kickstarter campaign is slated for 2026. This choice of platform suggests that while CDPR provides franchise oversight and lore accuracy, the financial risk and community building remain in WeirdCo’s hands.
-
The Release: Pending a successful funding cycle, the game is expected to hit retail shelves late in 2026 or early 2027, coinciding with the broader “Project Orion” hype cycle.
The Physical Mandate
Perhaps most striking is the insistence on a physical-only release. In an era where digital card games like Hearthstoneand Marvel Snap dominate the market, WeirdCo and CDPR are pivoting toward the “kitchen table” experience. The game will feature custom artwork from over 20 different artists, focusing on the gritty, analog textures of Night City—a sharp contrast to the polished UI of Gwent, CDPR’s previous card venture.
For the collectors, the stakes are high. The initial sets are confirmed to span the breadth of the franchise, including the Arasaka and Militech corporate factions, alongside the street-level gangs that define the “Edge.”
As the Kickstarter date approaches, the question remains whether a boutique indie studio can manage the logistical weight of a global TCG launch. In Night City, the house always wins; WeirdCo is betting that this time, the players will be happy to buy into the game.
